Sunday, March 31, 2013

Spending the week loving on my (overstimulated, exhausted, excited. . . ) baby's at Disney Florida. I expect this message to help get me through the long lines and crowds of people tomorrow at Magic Kingdom. At least I am counting on it!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

I was beyond excited to be invited to the book signing event last Friday at Circa Interiors & Antiques for owners Jane Schwab and Cindy Smith's new book, The Welcoming House: The Art of Living Graciously. After a recent trip to New England came up, I called in one of my favorite Charlotte interior designer's and local blogger Rachel Noreika from Curate. Rachel so graciously welcomed the opportunity to guest blog on the book signing and to give the ladies from Circa Interiors some major props! Thanks Rachel for the great blog on two amazing interior designers helping to put Charlotte, NC on the international design radar!

Living Graciously & Welcoming Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms as we know and I gained a great deal of it last Friday when I stopped by Circa Interiors & Antiques to grab a copy of Jane Schwab & Cindy Smith's new book, The Welcoming House: The Art of Living Graciously.

Everyone at Circa was so lovely and warm and I couldn't help but be inspired by the body of work that these two ladies have completed over the course of their careers. They've created a mini-empire here in Charlotte with one of the most beautiful retail spaces around and have been designing elegant spaces for people all over the country (and beyond I'm sure) for nearly two decades. I can only hope to experience a fraction of the success they've had in my own career.

The book is beautiful and timeless and as it rests on my cocktail table atop the other books, I know my guests will enjoy looking through it for years to come. The gorgeous photos depict classic and thoughtfully designed spaces that seem to move effortlessly between one another. I am most inspired by the way Jane & Cindy's spaces connect to one another and flow naturally outdoors, beckoning guests to enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces they've so thoughtfully created.

My favorite home in this book is without a doubt the Schwab's Jackson Hole retreat. They intended to create a getaway "that would be one with the landscape" and it is truly magnificent. There are few places on this earth as beautiful as Jackson Hole and to have created a space that speaks to and reflects its grand surroundings is truly a feat of vision and talent. Everything from the homes construction made of old timber and Montana moss rock, to its tasteful & organic decor speaks to me and seems at one with its picturesque setting. I can only imagine what a coveted escape this is for the Schwab's and their friends and family. The fabulous Wyoming retreat is only one of eight beautiful projects Jane & Cindy explore in their book - each beckons in a distinctly different way.

While I don't think that living graciously has much to do with a well-designed home, I do know that a well-designed home can welcome you warmly and that is exactly how I felt last Friday when I met Jane & Cindy for the first time -- welcome. Like a welcoming home and a gracious friend, this book will continue to unveil its treasures over time, one page at a time.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Thought I would leave you all to this wonderful weekend with this little pic of girly heaven.

Here's why this perfect room is so kick ass:

1. The floor may be the most amazing piece of stone to ever be cut from the earth.

2. The suspended dressing table is covered in what appears to be chocolate/slate shagreen leather and is nothing short of divine.

3. The lighting, I don't know where to start on it's fabulousness. . . Modern Art Deco glass sconces mixed with the Hollywood Regency cascading crystal over sized chandelier. . . a recipe for perfection? Most definitely!

Monday, March 11, 2013

After a month of riding what I could only describe as an emotional roller coaster, I resemble one of those exhausted and stressed out mommy's from a bad 80's movie. Feeling down in the dumps, I apologized to Sadie for not being the best mommy I could be. She said "Mommy, your not a bad mommy, your a great mommy. Your the kind of mommy that sits down and plays Super Mario Brothers with me." Humm, that's what makes a good mommy in the eyes of a six year old. Well how hard is that? Apparently, it's not all that hard at all. Here I am running ragged and worrying about signing her up for spring soccer, and swim teams and summer camps and vacations and all she wants is 20 minutes to veg with me on the couch.

I admit it, I love playing our new Wii with the family, but I also love playing the games by myself. Last night I grabbed the controller and tried, to no avail, to get her past the last level to drive us bonkers. With limited "lives" left I hit the level one jackpot for some extra "lives. That's what Sadie would have done, gone back to the beginning and stocked up on "extra lives" so that she would have plenty of chances to win when the next big challenge comes.

So life is hard and this level is a bitch. I just wish I could throw in the controller and turn the darn thing off. But I cant because this game of life is for reals y'all. Lucky for us, we can go back to level one, back to the easy levels we have already mastered. Back to the basics of family and stockpile it up on love, and positive energy and rejuvenation. So that our "lives" are full for the next roller coaster that hits. Because it will. . .this is real life and you better be ready to play!